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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/minutesofconfere00unse_0 


1, 


[Printed  for  the  Use  of  the  Prudential  Committee.] 

MINUTES 

OF  A 

CONFERENCE  OF  MISSIONARIES 


HELD  AT 


CONSTANTINOPLE, 


IN  NOVEMBER,  1855, 


ON  OCCASION  OF  THE  VISIT  OF  ONE  OF  THE  SECRETARIES 


OF  THE 


Imwinni  fmtl  nf  Cnmmrainttws  for  /nmgtt  fflimms. 


BOSTON: 

PRESS  OF  T.  R.  MARVIN,  42  CONGRESS  STREET. 
1 8 5 6. 


NOTE. 

The  Conference,  whose  proceedings  are  embodied  in  this  pamphlet,  was  not  a 
meeting  of  the  Armenian  Mission,  but  only  of  such  members  of  it  as  could  con- 
veniently assemble,  so  late  in  the  season,  to  meet  Dr.  Anderson.  The  reports 
adopted  have  no  other  authority,  than  what  is  derived  from  their  value  as  a record 
of  opinions.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  however,  that  they  express  what  would 
have  been  the  judgment  of  the  mission,  were  it  fully  represented.  The  reports 
are  printed,  in  order  that  they  may  be  available  for  the  members  of  the  mission 
and  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  and  only  for  private  use. 

A similar  meeting  was  held  at  Aintab,  on  occasion  of  the  Secretary’s  visit  there 
in  October;  where  the  more  important  of  the  subjects  of  these  reports  were  dis- 
cussed, and  with  similar  results,  though  not  reduced  to  a written  form.  Some 
account  of  the  visit  to  Aintab  is  given  in  a letter  from  that  place  published  in  the 
Missionary  Herald  for  February,  1856. 


SPECIAL  MEETING  AT  CONSTANTINOPLE. 


Minutes  of  a Conference  held  at  Constantinople,  during  the  visit  of 
Dr.  Anderson,  in  November,  1855. 

Bebek,  November  19,  1855. 

A Conference  was  this  day  opened  for  the  consideration  of  ques- 
tions relative  to  the  missionary  work,  at  which  were  present  such  per- 
sons as  could  be  conveniently  assembled,  viz  : 

Rev.  R.  ANDERSON,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Amer- 
ican Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

Rev.  WILLIAM  GOODELL,  D.  D. 

Rev.  H.  G.  O.  DWIGHT,  D.  D. 

Rev.  ELIAS  RIGGS,  D.  D. 

Rev.  WILLIAM  G.  SCHAEFFLER,  D.  D. 

Rev.  CYRUS  HAMLIN,  D.  D. 

Rev.  DANIEL  LADD. 

Rev.  EDWARD  M.  DODD. 

Rev.  JOEL  S.  EVERETT. 

Rev.  JUSTIN  W.  PARSONS. 

Rev.  HOMER  B.  MORGAN. 

Rev.  IRA  F.  PETTIBONE. 

Several  ladies  connected  with  the  mission  were  also  present. 

After  a season  of  devotional  exercises,  Mr.  Goodell  was  chosen 
Chairman,  and  Mr.  Dwight,  Secretary.  Dr.  Anderson  then  made 
some  statements  respecting  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  India  with  Mr. 
Thompson,  and  also  of  the  gratifying  results  of  their  visit  to  that 
country. 

Some  time  was  spent  in  conference  upon  the  governing  object  in 
missions,  and  upon  the  extent  to  which  we  should  go  in  purchasing  or 
erecting  places  of  worship  ; after  which  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
meet  at  Bebek,  at  half  past  nine  o’clock  on  Wednesday  morning. 

Bebek,  Wednesday , Nov.  21sL — Prayer  was  offered  by  Mr.  Ladd, 
who  was  called  to  the  chair  in  the  temporary  absence  of  the  Chairman. 
Mr.  Morgan,  of  Salonica,  took  his  seat  this  day  in  the  Conference. 


4 


Dr.  Anderson  read  a letter  addressed  to  himself  and  Mr.  Thompson 
by  the  Prudential  Committee,  appointing  them  a Deputation  to  visit, 
as  far  as  they  could  on  their  return  from  India,  the  Missions  in  West- 
ern Asia.  After  making  some  remarks  upon  this  subject,  he  read  a 
list  of  topics  for  consideration,  a portion  of  which  had  been  handed 
him  by  the  Constantinople  station.  The  topics,  upon  which  written 
reports  were  desired,  were  the  following. 

1.  Whether  the  governing  object  in  foreign  missions  should  be  the 
conversion  of  sinners,  the  gathering  of  those  converts  into  churches, 
and  the  ordaining  of  native  pastors  over  those  churches. 

2.  Proposed  Division  of  the  Field. 

3.  Education  of  a Native  Ministry. — At  Bebek — at  Tocat — else- 
where— whether  it  be  expedient  to  dispense  with  the  secular  arrange- 
ments in  connection  with  the  Seminary  at  Bebek — what  repairs,  if 
any,  should  be  made  in  the  house  at  Bebek — how  far  the  Tocat  insti- 
tution ought  to  be  on  the  plan  of  the  one  at  Bebek — need  of  it — 
whether  the  Bebek  Seminary  is  adapted,  or  can  be,  to  meet  the  wants 
of  city  and  country — effect  of  the  training  of  native  ministers  so  near 
the  capital  on  their  personal  expenses. 

4.  Whether  native  churches  should  be  formed  long  before  there  is  a 
prospect  of  supplying  them  with  native  pastors — whether  missionaries 
should  be  pastors  of  churches — whether  the  aid  to  the  salary  of  the 
native  pastor,  though  paid  to  him,  should  be  voted  to  the  church,  or 
to  the  pastor — authority  of  the  mission,  as  such,  to  organize  native 
churches,  and  to  ordain  native  pastors,  and  to  superintend  the  same, 
and  the  expediency  of  doing  this — appropriate  relation  of  native 
churches  and  pastors  to  the  mission. 

5.  Church  building. — What  sort  of  buildings  are  needed,  in  the 
first  instance — how  provide  the  funds — in  what  circumstances  should 
the  Board  hold  the  property. 

G.  Female  Seminary. — Whether  any  modifications  are  desirable  in 
the  number  and  character  of  its  pupils,  or  in  its  studies — how  far  the 
pupils  are  trained  to  become  wives  of  pastors  in  the  interior. 

7.  How  many  more  missionaries  should  be  sent  into  the  field. 

8.  The  Moslems. — Whether  it  be  expedient  for  members  of  the 
Armenian  mission  to  labor  in  a more  direct  manner  than  heretofore 
among  the  Turks — whether  missionary  funds  should  be  applied  to  aid 
Mohammedan  converts  in  fleeing  from  persecution. 

9.  Whether  missionary  funds  should  ever  be  applied  to  the  temporal 
relief  of  converts. 

10.  Salaries. 

11.  Estimates,  Appropriations  and  Expenditures. — Whether  the 
expenditures  should  not  correspond  with  the  specific  appropriations  of 
the  Prudential  Committee. 


5 


Messrs.  Dwight,  Hamlin  and  Morgan  were  appointed  a committee 
to  nominate  committees  to  prepare  reports  upon  the  topics  after  they 
shall  have  been  discussed. 

The  first  subject  on  the  list  having  already  been  discussed  at  the 
previous  meeting,  the  second  and  third  were  successively  taken  up, 
and  received  a full  expression  of  opinion.  The  condition  of  the  Bebek 
Seminary  was  considered  under  the  latter  head,  and  whether  there 
should  be  any  changes  in  its  plan  of  study,  etc. 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  at  Bebek,  Thursday  morning,  at 
half  past  nine  o’clock. 

Bebek,  Thursday,  Nov.  22 d. — In  the  absence  of  the  Chairman, 
Mr.  Schauffler  was  called  to  preside,  who  opened  the  meeting  with 
prayer.  The  Chairman  and  Secretary,  together  with  Mr.  Schauffler, 
were  appointed  a committee  to  arrange  for  our  future  meetings  so  as 
to  economize  time  and  secure  some  other  objects.  The  committee  on 
nominations  recommended  the  appointment  of  the  following  com- 
mittees : — 

4 

1.  On  the  Governing  Object  in  Missions. — Messrs.  Dwight  and 
Pettibone. 

2.  The  Division  of  the  Armenian  Field. — Messrs.  Ladd  and  Everett. 

3.  Education  of  a Native  Ministry. — Messrs.  Hamlin  and  Parsons. 

4.  Native  Pastors  and  the  relation  of  Missionaries  to  them. — Messrs. 
Riggs  and  Ladd. 

5.  Church  Buildings. — Messrs.  Hamlin  and  Riggs. 

6.  Female  Seminary. — Messrs.  Everett  and  Goodell. 

7.  Jewish  Department. — Messrs.  Dwight,  Schauffler  and  Dodd. 

8.  Supply  of  the  Field. — Messrs.  Goodell  and  Parsons. 

9.  The  Mohammedans. — Messrs.  Dodd  and  Goodell. 

10.  Relief  of  Poor  Converts  with  Missionary  Funds. — Messrs.  Mor- 
gan and  Schauffler. 

11.  Salaries. — Messrs.  Riggs  and  Pettibone. 

12.  Estimates,  Appropriations  and  Expenditures. — Mr.  Riggs. 

The  subject  of  the  Seminary  was  then  resumed,  and  especially  the 
necessity  of  making  it  a strictly  Theological  School  as  soon  as  practi- 
cable. 

The  plan  of  the  Tocat  Theological  School  was  considered  ; after 
which  the  fourth  general  topic  was  introduced,  namely,  “ The  supply 
of  the  churches  with  native  pastors  and  the  relation  the  missionaries 
should  hold  to  them,”  etc.  Dr.  Anderson  read  a memorandum  on  this 
last  subject,  the  object  of  which  was  to  show  the  true  scriptural  view 
of  the  missionary  office.  The  expediency  of  purchasing  a building  in 


6 


Hass-keuy  for  the  Female  Seminary  was  considered  ; and  after  that 
the  question,  How  many  missionaries  are  needed  in  Constantinople. 
Adjourned  to  meet  at  Pera  at  half  past  nine  o’clock,  Friday  morning. 

Pera,  Friday , Nov.  23 d. — The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer  by 
the  Secretary.  After  some  conversation  on  the  supply  of  the  field,  the 
subject  of  the  Jewish  mission  was  introduced,  the  consideration  of 
which  occupied  the  whole  day.  Mr.  Riggs  was  appointed  a committee 
on  expenses.  Adjourned  to  meet  in  Pera  on  Saturday,  at  half  past  nine 
o’clock,  A.  M. 

Pera,  Monday,  Nov.  2 6th. — The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer 
by  Mr.  Goodell.  The  session  appointed  for  Saturday  was  omitted  from 
the  necessary  absence  of  Dr.  Anderson.  The  question  of  the  supply 
of  the  field  was  resumed,  and  after  considerable  discussion  of  the  sub- 
ject, it  gave  place  to  the  further  consideration  of  the  Jewish  mission, 
all  the  members  of  the  Conference  being  present.  Subsequently  the 
following  subjects  were  successively  introduced ; namely,  the  Greek 
and  Mohammedan  departments  ; church  building ; the  Turkish  Missions 
Aid  Society  ; the  use  of  missionary  funds  in  aiding  converts  to  escape 
persecution  ; and  the  revision  of  the  Bulgarian  Bible.  The  meeting 
was  then  adjourned  to  half  past  nine  o’clock,  Tuesday  morning. 

Pera,  Tuesday,  Nov.  27</n — Prayer  was  offered  by  Mr.  Ladd.  Mr. 
Riggs  read  a letter  concerning  the  Bulgarian  Old  Testament,  and 
wished  advice  as  to  whether  he  should  accede  to  the  request  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  that  he  should  revise  the  Book  of 
Isaiah,  now  translated  into  that  language.  His  state  of  health  was 
then  considered,  and  the  decided  opinion  of  nearly  all  present  was 
that  Mr.  Riggs  should  make  a visit  to  America,  and  in  this  opinion 
Dr.  Anderson  concurred. 

Some  conversation  was  then  had  on  the  importance  of  enlarging 
our  press  operations  in  the  Armeno-Turkish  language,  and  all  present 
seemed  to  feel  deeply  the  necessity  thereof ; though  it  would  require 
either  that  the  brethren  laboring  in  this  department  throughout  the  field 
should  severally  aid  in  the  preparation  of  books,  or  that  an  additional 
missionary  be  located  at  Constantinople  for  this  special  purpose. 

Various  items  of  business  were  considered. 

The  next  subject  introduced  was  the  expediency  of  purchasing  a 
piece  of  ground  in  Trebizond  for  building  a school-house  and  ulti- 
mately a church  upon  it;  and  the  general  opinion  was,  that  the  ground 
was  too  costly  for  the  Board  to  own. 

A question  was  asked  in  regard  to  the  best  time  of  making  out  the 
Tabular  View  ; and  it  appeared  that,  to  be  of  value  as  a statistical 


7 


document,  it  should  end  with  the  calendar  year ; though  it  might  be 
made  out  in  May,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  mission,  if  it  seemed 
desirable. 

Dr.  Anderson  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  lot  in  Pera,  owned  by 
the  Board,  should  be  sold  as  soon  as  practicable,  even  if  something 
must  be  sacrificed  upon  it ; also,  that  an  inventory  should  be  made 
annually  of  all  the  books  in  the  depository,  and  the  receipts  of  the 
year  be  credited  to  the  different  Societies  that  have  furnished  the  funds 
for  printing,  according  to  the  grant  of  each. 

Adjourned  to  Pera,  Thursday,  half  past  nine. 

Pera , Thursday , Nov.  29 tli. — The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer 
by  Mr.  Riggs.  Reports  were  read  on  the  governing  object  in  mis- 
sions; division  of  the  field;  education  of  a native  ministry;  organ- 
ization of  churches,  and  the  relation  sustained  by  the  pastors  to  the 
missionaries ; church  buildings  ; the  Jewish  mission ; supply  of  the 
field  ; the  Mohammedans ; relief  of  poor  converts  with  funds  of  the 
Board  ; female  boarding  school  ; salaries  ; and  estimates,  appropria- 
tions, and  expenditures.  The  reports  were  all  accepted  and  adopted  ; 
except  those  on  the  supply  of  the  field,  and  the  female  boarding  school, 
which  were  re-committed. 

Mr.  Riggs  was  appointed  to  prepare  a minute  expressive  of  our 
great  satisfaction  with  the  visit  of  Dr.  Anderson.  Adjourned  to  meet 
at  the  Vizier  Khan  on  Friday  morning,  at  ten  o’clock,  A.  M. 

Vizier  Khan,  Friday,  Nov.  30 th. — Prayer  was  offered  by  Mr. 
Everett.  Amendments  of  the  reports  upon  the  supply  of  the  field, 
and  the  female  boarding  school,  were  read  and  approved. 

Voted,  That  the  records  and  documents  of  this  Conference  be  depos- 
ited with  the  Secretary  of  the  mission,  a copy  being  furnished  for  the 
Missionary  House. 

The  following  minute  was  read  by  Mr.  Riggs,  and  unanimously 
approved,  namely, — 

Having  been  permitted  in  divine  Providence  to  enjoy  a season  of 
free  and  fraternal  conference  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson,  the  Senior 
Secretary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  in  regard  to  the  missionary  work  in 
this  land,  we  desire  to  give  expression  to  our  feelings  of  gratitude  to 
God,  who  has  brought  him  to  us  in  safety,  after  the  multiplied  labors 
and  exposures  of  his  journey  hitherto,  and  of  satisfaction  at  the  char- 
acter and  results  of  our  interviews  with  him.  We  have  been  permit- 
ted to  confer  with  him  respecting  the  great  interests  of  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  and  partially  to  survey  with  him  the  wants  of  a field  which 


8 


the  Lord  hath  blessed.  It  has  been  gratifying  to  find  our  maturest 
views  so  much  in  harmony  with  those  expressed  by  him  as  the  result 
of  his  own  experience  and  that  of  the  Prudential  Committee.  We 
are  thankful  for  the  valuable  practical  suggestions  which  he  has  given 
us.  We  have  also  been  refreshed  by  social  and  spiritual  converse 
with  him  ; and  only  regretted  that  his  associate  in  the  Deputation  to 
the  India  missions,  the  Rev.  Augustus  C.  Thompson,  was  prevented, 
by  the  imperative  calls  of  duty  at  home,  from  visiting  us  in  company 
with  him.  And  now  we  heartily  commend  him  to  God,  and  to  the 
guidance  and  care  of  his  providence,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace. 

Dr.  Anderson  made  some  closing  remarks  to  the  members  of  the 
Conference  on  several  practical  subjects.  He  spoke  of  the  importance 
of  the  Mission,  as  such,  exercising  more  control  over  its  stations  and 
members  in  the  matter  of  church  buildings  ; as  the  Prudential  Com- 
mittee cannot  be  expected  to  act  on  any  applications  for  grants,  which 
are  not  accompanied  by  a definite  and  detailed  plan,  and  also  by  the 
distinct  approval  of  the  mission,  or  of  the  committee  ad  interim.  He 
also  suggested  the  importance  of  guarding  against  the  tendency  in 
stations  to  convert  the  theological  classes  into  seminaries,  and  to  incur 
expenses  without  authorization  ; and  that  the  Seminary  in  Bebek  ought 
not  to  lose  time  in  coming  into  the  plan  of  their  report  on  the  subject 
of  embracing  only  pious  students,  and  becoming  a strictly  theological 
school ; and  in  regard  to  the  location  of  this  institution,  he  would  not 
be  surprised  should  it  before  many  years  find  its  way  into  some  Arme- 
nian quarter  of  the  city,  and  the  pupils,  possibly,  be  boarded  in  native 
Protestant  families.  He  advised  that  we  remember  the  wants  of  other 
missions,  in  making  calls  for  more  missionaries  for  the  Armenian  field. 
After  remarks  from  the  Chairman  and  several  members  of  the  mis- 
sion, and  prayer  by  the  Chairman,  the  Conference  was  adjourned  sine 
die. 


H.  G.  O.  DWIGHT,  Secretary. 


9 


REPORTS  OP  COMMITTEES. 


I. 

GOVERNING  OBJECT  IN  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

Foreign  Missions  are  as  old  as  Christianity ; they  are,  in  fact,  an 
essential  part  of  the  Christian  system.  The  expiatory  sacrifice  that 
was  made  on  Calvary,  was  designed  for  the  whole  world,  and  full  pro- 
vision was  made  in  the  system  itself,  for  its  propagation  throughout  the 
earth.  When  the  work  of  expiation  was  completed,  and  Christ  Jesus 
was  about  to  ascend  up  into  heaven,  from  whence  he  had  come  forth, 
he  gave  it  as  his  last  command  to  his  disciples,  “ Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature  ; ” adding,  “ He  that 
believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved ; but  he  that  believeth  not  shall 
be  damned .” 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  to  some  extent  in  the  Epistles,  we 
have  a practical  commentary  on  this  divine  command,  showing  in  what 
way  it  was  understood  hy  those  inspired  men  to  whom  it  was  originally 
given.  We  find  that  they  made  the  most  extraordinary  efforts,  subject- 
ing themselves  to  the  greatest  self  denials  and  sacrifices,  to  propagate 
this  religion  and  bring  the  world  to  Christ.  The  churches  of  Christ 
then  formed,  were  emphatically  missionary  churches;  for  no  sooner  did 
they  receive  the  gospel  themselves,  than  they  entered  upon  the  most 
vigorous  measures  to  extend  its  blessings  to  others,  even  to  remote 
regions. 

Can  any  one,  who  has  read  the  brief  historic  record  alluded  to,  of 
the  missionary  labors  of  the  apostolic  age,  doubt  what  was  their 
governing  object  1 What  was  it  but  the  conversion  of  the  soul  to 
God — the  conversion  and  salvation  of  the  whole  world ! The  mes- 
sage of  Jesus  to  Paul,  when  the  persecutor  was  arrested  in  his  mad 
career,  and  called  to  become  an  apostolic  missionary,  is  very  clear  and 
explicit.  “ For  I have  appeared  unto  thee  for  this  purpose,  to  make 
thee  a minister  and  a witness  both  of  these  things  which  thou  hast 
seen,  and  of  those  things  in  the  which  I will  appear  unto  thee,  deliv- 
ering thee  from  the  people  and  from  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom  now  I 

i? 


10 


send  thee.  To  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to 
light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive 
forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheritance  among  them  which  are  sanctified 
by  faith  that  is  in  me.”  (Acts  xxvi.  16-18.) 

The  errand  upon  which  Paul  and  the  oilier  Apostles  were  sent  was, 
therefore,  “ to  turn  men  from  darkness  unto  light,  and  from  the  power 
of  Satan  unto  God.”  Upon  precisely  the  same  errand  is  the  modern 
missionary  sent  forth. 

When  we,  who  now  compose  this  mission  to  Turkey,  first  gave  our- 
selves to  this  work,  while  yet  in  America,  and  resolved  to  come  forth 
to  this  foreign  field,  we  must  have  had  some  great  object  in  view,  lead- 
ing us  to  make  such  a sacrifice.  What  was  that  object  but  the  conver- 
sion of  men  to  Christ  ? Our  very  presence  here  shows  that  we  are 
all  agreed  on  this  point.  For  no  object  less  than  this  would  one  of  us 
have  come,  and  for  no  object  less  would  one  of  us  stay  here  a single 
day.  There  are,  doubtless,  other  objects  of  pursuit  which  are  impor- 
tant in  this  place.  The  secular  education  and  civilization  of  a barba- 
rous people,  and  their  improvement  in  commerce  and  the  arts,  are 
clearly  entitled  to  a rank  among  these;  but  they  are  not  the  governing 
object  of  the  missionary,  nor  are  they  to  be  considered  as  necessary  to 
a people,  in  order  to  prepare  them  for  the  reception  of  the  gospel.  In 
the  divine  order  of  things,  they  are  not  usually  the  precursors,  but  the 
results  of  the  gospel ; and  the  missionary  can  never  set  himself  at  work 
in  a more  hopeful  way,  than  by  endeavoring,  by  all  means,  and  in  the 
shortest  space  of  time,  to  bring  divine  truth  into  direct  contact  with 
the  minds  of  men. 

The  whole  course  of  labor  pursued  by  this  mission  from  the  begin- 
ning testifies,  that,  in  our  view,  the  great  and  governing  object  of 
missionary  labor  is  what  we  have  now  stated. 

The  organization  of  the  converts  into  churches,  and  the  settlement 
of  pastors  over  them,  follows  as  a most  natural  consequence  from  con- 
version to  Christ.  The  history  of  the  apostolic  age  is  a history  of 
organization,  as  well  as  of  conversion.  Christ  and  him  crucified  were 
preached  ; men  believed  ; they  were  baptized,  and  thus  admitted  into 
the  Christian  church;  and  “elders”  were  ordained  “ in  every  city.” 
It  is  impossible  to  conceive  how  Christianity  could  be  propagated  and 
perpetuated,  in  any  other  way. 

According  to  our  view,  such  was  the  governing  object  of  missionary 
labors  in  the  apostolic  age,  nor  do  we  believe  it  can  be  improved  upon 
by  us.  Improvements  may  be  introduced,  as  indeed  they  have  been, 
in  the  department  of  means  and  facilities  ; but  never  in  the  object 
itself,  down  to  the  end  of  time. 


H.  G.  O.  DWIGHT,  Chairman. 


1 1 

II. 

DIVISION  OF  THE  FIELD. 

We  have  long  regarded  the  division  of  this  missionary  field  as  being 
a question  only  as  to  the  time  when  it  should  be  done.  The  necessity 
for  a division  arises  not  from  any  difference  in  the  people  in  different 
parts  of  it,  as  to  language,  habits  or  civilization,  requiring  important 
modifications  in  missionary  labors,  but  solely  from  the  extent  of 
the  field.  For  whatever  division  might  be  made,  the  section  into 
which  Constantinople  and  Smyrna  would  fall,  must  contain  a pretty 
large  portion  of  interior  territory,  where  there  is  little  or  no  civiliza- 
tion. But  the  geographical  extent  of  the  field  now  occasions  much 
difficulty,  expense  and  loss  of  time,  in  having  all  the  stations  properly 
represented  at  the  annual  meetings. 

We  suppose,  therefore,  the  time  is  near  at  hand,  if  not  already 
come,  when  it  will  be  expedient  to  have  the  field  divided  into  two  por- 
tions, the  northern  with  Constantinople,  and  the  southern  with  Aintab 
for  a centre  ; and  that,  ere  long,  this  northern  part  will  need  to  be 
subdivided  into  eastern  and  western. 

We  need  not  now  attempt  to  speak  very  definitely  respecting  the 
line  of  division  between  the  eastern  and  western  portions.  This  can 
be  better  determined  when  the  time  for  this  division  comes. 

In  respect  to  the  boundaries  of  the  southern  portion,  the  range  of 
the  Taurus  should,  unquestionably,  be  the  boundary  between  it  and 
the  other  portion  westerly.  The  boundary  on  the  north  should  cor- 
respond pretty  nearly  with  the  thirty-eighth  degree  of  north  latitude; 
thus  bringing  Albistan  and  Malatia  into  the  southern  division.  Yet 
we  would  have  these  and  other  places  in  the  vicinity  left  to  be  assigned 
hereafter  to  one  or  the  other  division,  as  circumstances  shall  then  seem 
to  require. 

The  other  boundaries  of  the  different  divisions  do  not  seem  to  call 
for  any  particular  remarks  at  present,  as  they  are  boundaries  of  the 
mission  as  it  now  exists. 

The  southern  portion  has  had  an  important  accession  to  its  territory 
from  the  Syrian  mission,  since  our  last  annual  meeting,  and  unques- 
tionably will  soon  have  an  addition  to  its  number  of  laborers.  We 
think  it  expedient,  therefore,  and  promotive  of  the  best  interests  of 
the  whole  field,  that  this  portion  be  organized  into  a separate  mission, 
whenever  the  brethren  there  unanimously  desire  it. 

That  there  are  some  objections  to  making  this  division  we  know  ; 
but  we  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  examine  them  here  in  detail,  for 
on  the  whole  we  apprehend  no  serious  difficulty  in  the  working  of 
these  different  missions,  when  organized  separately.  All  the  printing 


12 


would  necessarily  be  done  at  Constantinople,  but  there  could  be  no 
important  difficulty  in  that ; in  the  treasury  department  there  would 
be  none  ; and  whenever  the  contemplated  newly  organized  mission 
may  hereafter  he  in  need  of  school  teachers  or  pastors  educated  at  the 
mission  seminary,  doubtless  satisfactory  arrangements  can  be  readily 
made  by  the  then  different  missions  for  all  required  transfer  of  such 
native  agents. 

The  names  by  which  the  different  missions  shall  be  called,  are  of  some 
importance.  We  think  they  should  he  taken  either  from  the  names  of  the 
central  place  of  each  field,  as  Constantinople  Mission,  Aintab  Mission, 
Erzroom  (or  Arabkir)  Mission;  or  from  the  particular  part  of  the 
whole  field  which  each  of  these  portions  will  occupy,  when  viewed  in 
reference  to  the  points  of  the  compass,  as  Eastern  Mission,  Western 
Mission,  Southern  Mission.  We  should  prefer  these  latter  names  for 
the  present,  viz  : The  Northern  Armenian  Mission,  and  the  Southern 
Armenian  Mission. 

DANIEL  LADD,  Chairman. 


III. 

EDUCATION  OF  A NATIVE  MINISTRY. 

The  circumstances  of  the  missionary  work  among  the  oriental 
churches  necessarily  call  forth  two  classes  of  native  preachers. 

1st.  There  will  he  one  class  that  will  enter  the  work  without  any 
extended  course  of  preparatory  study.  But  they  should  be  men  of 
earnest  piety  and  good  judgment,  and  well  instructed  in  Bible  doc- 
trines. Almost  every  missionary  station  will  produce  some  such  men, 
and  no  missionary  can  do  a better  work  than  to  prepare  them,  to  the 
extent  of  his  ability,  for  the  ministry  of  the  word. 

This  preparation,  however,  will  be  partial.  They  will  remain  in 
their  own  community,  will  maintain  their  native  habits  of  living,  and 
need  have  no  connection  with  the  family  of  the  missionary.  It  will 
he  somewhat  like  taking  the  strong  artisan,  and  preparing  him  by  a 
few  days’  training  for  the  exigencies  of  a great  campaign.  Too  great 
reliance  must  not  be  placed  upon  these.  They  will  be  like  the  elders 
ordained  by  the  Apostles  in  every  city,  but  probably  far  inferior  in 
spiritual  and  intellectual  attainments.  They  will  often  make  mistakes, 
will  sometimes  be  found  incompetent;  but  still  Christ  will  be  preached, 
and  his  truth,  though  committed  to  such  imperfect  instruments,  will 
triumph,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God,  and  not  of 


man. 


13 


2d.  For  the  prosecution  of  the  work,  a second  class  of  preachers 
will  be  required,  and  it  will  be  the  appropriate  work  of  the  seminary 
at  Bebek  to  prepare  them. 

Their  culture  should  be  of  a different  and  higher  nature.  The 
English  language  should  be  thoroughly  taught,  so  as  to  open  all  its 
stores  of  biblical  literature  to  the  mind.  The  present  course  of  study 
requires  no  change,  but  a more  thorough  carrying-out  of  the  system 
which  the  mission  has  repeatedly  approved.  In  order  to  do  this,  it  is 
necessary  that  all  the  students  should  be  pious,  and  should  be  between 
the  ages  of  fifteen  and  twenty  on  entering  the  institution.  It  will  then 
be  incumbent  upon  the  stations  to  furnish  these  choice  theological 
students.  If  they  do  not  do  this,  the  seminary  will  cease  to  exist,  and 
instead  of  accomplishing  the  great  work  to  which  it  is  called,  will 
prove  a failure.  The  attention  of  every  missionary  in  the  field  should 
be  especially  directed  to  the  youth.  He  should  look  for  the  blessing 
of  God  upon  this,  more  than  any  other  department  of  his  efforts.  The 
responsibility  of  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  young  men  who  may  be 
trained  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  rests  entirely  with  the  mission- 
aries in  the  field  ; their  education  and  preparation  will  be  the  appro- 
priate work  of  the  Seminary. 

C.  HAMLIN,  Chairman. 


IV. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  CHURCHES. 

The  organization  of  churches  is  a work  belonging  appropriately  to 
the  office  of  a missionary  or  evangelist.  It  is  a part  of  that  laying  of 
foundations,  to  which  Paul  refers  in  1 Cor.  iii.  10,  where  he  says,  “ I 
have  laid  the  foundation,  and  another  buildeth  thereon.”  Where  an 
individual  missionary  occupies  a field  alone,  this  duty  devolves  upon 
him.  From  the  necessity  of  the  case,  he  must  bear  the  burden  alone. 
The  needful  power  he  has  from  the  Head  of  the  Church.  The 
responsibility  he  must  meet.  But  if,  in  the  good  providence  of  God, 
several  are  associated  together,  then  this  duty  devolves  upon  them  in 
their  collective  capacity  as  a mission.  In  that  capacity  they  have  all 
the  power  and  facilities  necessary  for  the  purpose.  In  our  view,  no 
necessity  exists  for  the  transfer  to  the  missionary  field  of  the  ecclesi- 
astical organizations  existing  in  our  own  country.  It  seems  to  us  that 
they  would  only  complicate  our  working  machinery,  and  embarrass 
our  relation  to  the  native  pastors.  When,  in  1846,  the  Armenian 
mission  was  called  to  propose  a basis  of  church  organization,  (the 
same  which  has  been  cordially  and  freely  adopted  by  all  the  Evangel- 


14 


ical  Armenian  churches  in  Turkey,  now  twenty-six  in  number,)  there 
were  brethren  of  several  different  ecclesiastical  connections  engaged 
in  the  discussion  and  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  this  great 
work  ; yet  no  one  sought  to  have  his  own  denominational  peculiarities 
transferred  to  the  infant  churches  of  this  land.  It  was  agreed,  with- 
out a single  dissenting  voice,  (a  brother  in  the  ministry,  now  one  of 
the  Secretaries  of  the  Board,  being  with  us  on  that  occasion,)  to  pro- 
pose for  the  adoption  of  our  Armenian  brethren  a simple  scriptural 
organization,  without  any  reference  to  the  particular  constitutions  or 
rules  ot  our  respective  denominations.  The  aim  was  to  train  them 
to  the  management  of  their  own  ecclesiastical  affairs,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, independently  of  us,  and  from  the  beginning  with  no  other  de- 
pendence on  us  than  what  necessarily  results  from  the  fact  that  they 
had  received  gospel  truth  at  our  hands.  We  admitted  those  brethren 
to  the  fellowship,  not  of  Congregational,  or  Presbyterian,  or  German 
Reformed  churches,  but  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  And  for  their  edifi- 
cation, when  united  in  church  fellowship,  we  earnestly  desire  that 
pastors  should  be  ordained  over  them  as  soon  as  suitable  men  can  be 
found:  men  well  versed  in  scripture  truth,  deeply  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  Christ,  and  apt  to  teach,  whether  classically  educated  or  not. 
When  no  such  candidate  for  the  pastoral  office  can  be  found  immedi- 
ately, and  yet  the  materials  for  a church  exist,  we  are  clear  that  they 
should  be  united  in  church  fellowship,  should  choose  their  deacons 
and  committee  of  helpers,  and  should  do  the  best  they  can  towards 
edifying  one  another,  always  praying  that  God  would  speedily  provide 
for  them  one  to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life. 

Unquestionably  such  churches  must  remain  for  some  time  under  the 
watch  and  care  of  the  mission.  In  general  they  will  at  first  need  the 
aid  of  the  American  churches,  dispensed  through  the  mission,  in  the 
support  of  their  pastors.  This  aid  we  constantly  render,  not  to  the 
pastors,  as  to  men  in  our  employ,  but  to  the  churches,  inculcating  on 
them  the  duty  of  doing  from  the  first  what  they  can  toward  the  sup- 
port of  their  pastor,  and  of  assuming  the  whole  of  it  as  soon  as  the 
providence  of  God  shall  give  them  the  ability.  It  is  clear  that  the 
mission  must  judge  of  the  fitness  for  his  office  of  a pastor,  who  is  to 
be  supported  in  whole  or  in  part  by  funds  placed  at  our  disposal.  The 
mission  must  also  judge,  in  the  first  instance,  of  the  fitness  of  those 
who  desire  to  unite  and  be  recognized  by  us  as  churches  of  Christ ; 
and  also,  subsequently,  of  their  necessities,  and  of  the  manner  in 
which  they  perform  their  part  in  the  relation  they  sustain  to  their  pas- 
tor, to  their  fellow  members,  and  to  us. 

As  founders  of  these  churches,  and  messengers  and  almoners  of 
those  in  our  native  land,  we  must  and  do  occupy  a position  and  exer- 
cise prerogatives  which  the  native  pastors,  though  on  a perfect  equal- 


15 


ity  with  us  as  brethren  in  the  ministry,  cannot  claim,  and  to  which 
they  should  not  aspire.  Yet,  in  the  exercise  of  this  watch  and  care 
over  both  pastors  and  churches,  we  invite,  as  far  as  possible,  their  co- 
operation, and  endeavor  so  to  proceed  as  to  fit  them,  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, for  entire  self  government. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  native  churches  formed  by  the  mem- 
bers of  this  mission,  with  the  dates  of  their  organization,  one,  namely, 
that  of  Diarbekir,  being  now  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the  As- 
syrian mission  : — 


1.  1st  Church  in  Constantinople,  July  1,  1816.  14.  Eodosto,  . 

2.  Nicomedia,  ...  “ 20,  *‘  15.  Smyrna, 

3.  Ada  bazar,  ...  26,  “ 16.  Kessab, 

4.  Trebizond,  . . . Aug.  1,  “ 17.  Marsovan, 

5.  Erzroom,  ....  April  22,  1817.  18.  Cesarea,  . 

6.  Aintab,  ....  Jan.  1,  J848.  19.  Arabkir,  . 

7.  Broosa,*  ....  July  25,  “ 20.  Thyatira,* 

8.  2d  Church  in  Constantinople,  Nov.  1,  1850.  21.  Tooat, 

9.  Diarbekir,*  . . . March  2,  1851.  22.  Marash,  . 

10.  Sivas,  ....  March  9,  “ 23.  Mashger, 

11.  3d  Church  in  Constantinople,  Feb.  15,  1852.  24.  Divrik, 

12.  Aleppo,*  ....  June  6,  “ 25.  Adana, 

13.  Killis,  ....  “ 20,  “ 26.  Baglichcjuk, 


Sept.  17,  1852. 

Jan.  1,  1853. 
April  15,  “ 
May  1,  “ 

July  15,  1854. 
Aug.  1,  “ 

Oct.  14,  “ 
Nov.  26,  “ 
Dec.  3,  “ 
March  4,  1855. 
April  15,  “ 
May  1,  “ 
Sept.  25,  “ 


Number  of  native  preachers  16,  of  whom  four  are  pastors. 

Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  (*)  consist  in  part  of  members  not  of 
Armenian  origin. 

E.  RIGGS,  Chairman. 


y. 

CHURCH  BUILDING. 

The  committee  present  the  following  suggestions. 

1st.  It  is  ftot  desirable  to  make  efforts  to  erect  a church  edifice  in 
any  place,  whether  city  or  village,  at  the  very  commencement  of  an 
evangelical  work.  The  spiritual  building  should  precede  the  material. 
A church  should  first  be  formed,  and  a congregation  gathered,  held 
together  by  the  love  and  appreciation  of  the  truth.  When  a church, 
congregation  and  preacher  exist,  then  certainly  a suitable  place  of 
worship  is  of  great  importance. 

2d.  The  building  should  be  adapted  to  the  existing  prospects  of  the 
congregation.  It  should  not  contemplate  any  distant  future.  While 
it  should  allow  some  room  for  growth,  it  should  never  be  such  a struc- 
ture as  to  appear  naked  or  empty  when  the  usual  congregation  is 
gathered  into  it. 

It  will  therefore  be  advisable,  that  in  most  cases  the  first  buildings 
should  be  like  those  in  Nicomedia  and  Adabazar,  churches  and  school- 


16 


houses  in  one.  If  the  building  be  simple,  neat,  and  somewhat  churchly 
in  its  appearance,  and  have  good  light  and  air,  every  reasonable  aim 
will  be  attained. 

3d.  The  building  should  always  be  a cheap  one,  unless  erected  by 
the  community  itself,  in  which  case  it  may  be  as  solid  and  architectural 
as  the  builders  choose  to  make  it.  We  would  recommend  that  gene- 
rally it  be  built  of  wood,  lathed  and  plastered  inside  and  out,  except 
in  places  where  the  plastering  would  be  dearer  than  painted  boards  ; 
or  the  style  called  in  Turkish,  dolma.  The  plastered  wall  gives  some 
security  against  fire,  is  warm  in  winter,  cool  in  summer,  and  can 
always  be  kept  neat  and  new  in  its  appearance,  at  little  expense.  The 
light  should  always  be  from  the  side,  no  windows  being  allowed  in  the 
end  where  the  pulpit  is  placed. 

If  seats  be  necessary,  they  should  be  so  constructed  as  to  answer 
for  the  day-school  and  the  Sabbath  audience.  They  should  be  placed 
seventeen  or  eighteen  inches  apart ; and  the  writing  desks  should  be 
nothing  more  than  a hinged  leaf  on  the  back  of  each  seat,  from  four- 
teen to  sixteen  inches  wide,  hinged  thirty-two  inches  from  the  floor, 
sloping  two  inches,  firmly  supported  while  in  use,  but  on  the  Sabbath 
let  down  and  buttoned,  so  as  apparently  to  form  the  back  of  the  seat. 

We  will  suppose  a congregation  of  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  persons, 
with  a good  prospect  of  increase.  We  would  put  up  a building  about 
forty-five  by  thirty  feet,  and  twenty  or  twenty-two  feet  high  ; the  foun- 
dation walls  sunk  two  feet  below  the  surface,  and  rising  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  inches  above,  constructed  of  common  stone ; the  building 
to  stand  upon  the  centre  and  not  the  edge  of  these  walls. 

The  building  should  be  divided  into  two  rooms  not  far  from  the 
middle,  one  part  to  be  finished,  as  above,  for  church  and  school.  The 
other  may  be  used  for  conference  room,  recitation  room,  or  teachers’ 
room,  etc.,  until  the  congregation  becomes  crou'ded  and  uncomfort- 
able. The  division  wall  may  then  be  taken  down,  a^d  we  have  a 
room  for  a congregation  of  two  hundred  or  two  hundred  and  fifty  per- 
sons. The  school  can  be  removed  elsewhere  until  the  congregation 
builds  for  itself  a larger  church,  after  which  the  school  may  be  re- 
instated. By  this  time,  however,  the  building  will  probably  be  burned 
up,  and  the  community  will  be  free  for  more  solid  and  expensive  struc- 
tures at  its  own  cost. 

4th.  From  whence  should  the  funds  for  building  be  obtained  ? 

The  native  congregations  should  be  induced  to  aid  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power.  What  more  is  necessary  should  be  furnished  by  the 
Board,  and  the  property  be  held  by  the  Board  until  the  congregation  can 
redeem  it.  Experience  teaches,  that  the  Christian  public  in  England 
and  America  will  not  readily  contribute  to  church  building  as  a sep- 
arate object.  Its  urgent  necessity  is  not  fully  perceived,  and  its  rela- 


17 


tions  to  the  great  object  of  getting  the  truth  into  contact  with  men’s 
minds  are  not  apprehended.  But  if  the  funds  could  be  thus  obtained, 
many  evils  would  follow  from  the  want  of  any  suitable  regulating 
power.  One  congregation  would  be  successful,  and  build  a church 
even  beyond  its  wants;  another,  possibly  a more  important  place,  might 
fall  as  much  below.  But  a Missionary  Board  can  easily  decide  upon 
the  really  important  cases.  They  can  ascertain  the  existence  of  a 
sufficient  congregation,  designate  the  kind  of  building  to  be  erected, 
and  secure  the  greatest  practicable  degree  of  justice  and  equality  in 
the  use  of  funds  for  such  purposes  among  the  different  stations. 

With  such  safeguards  and  restrictions,  no  funds  for  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  this  empire  are  more  appropriately  and  effectively  expended, 
than  those  for  the  building  of  missionary  churches. 

C.  HAMLIN,  Chairman. 


VI. 

THE  FEMALE  BOARDING  SCHOOL. 

This  institution,  from  its  commencement,  has  been  eminently 
blessed  as  a means  of  grace.  In  Pera,  in  Bebek,  and  now  in  Hass- 
keuy,  the  good  Spirit  has  been  present,  and  every  year,  at  times,  with 
his  special  influences. 

The  aim  of  this  school  has  been — 

1.  The  moral  training,  and  the  conversion  of  all  its  pupils  to  vital 
godliness. 

2.  A good  intellectual  training  in  the  fundamental  branches  of  a 
common  education  in  their  vernacular  language,  (the  English  not 
being  taught,)  and  the  formation  of  such  domestic  habits  as  will  give 
them  self-reliance,  and  neatness  and  simplicity,  in  their  manners  and 
dress. 

As  the  result  from  the  prosecution  of- these  aims,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  more  than  three-fourths  of  all  that  have  been  in  the  school  any 
considerable  length  of  time,  have  been  hopefully  converted  while  con- 
nected with  it.  Three  wives  of  native  pastors,  several  teachers  of 
common  schools,  and  many  wives  of  pious  laymen,  have  come  from 
the  school.  Experience  has  shown  that  pupils  educated  in  this  school 
make  efficient  helpers  in  the  good  work,  at  Broosa,  Rodosto,  Ada- 
bazar,  Nicomedia,  Tocat,  and  other  places,  where  they  have  been 
called.  And  experience,  in  the  view  of  your  committee,  does  not  as 


c 


18 


yet  lead  us  to  suggest  any  important  changes,  either  in  the  plan  of  the 
school,  or  the  studies  or  training  of  the  pupils,  to  fit  them  for  wives 
of  pastors  and  helpers  in  any  interior  station.  Some  may  object  to 
its  location  at  the  capital ; but  experience  shows  that  those  educated 
here,  and  who  have  worn  the  bonnet,  find  no  difficulty  in  laying  it 
aside  in  Adabazar,  Nicomedia,  and  Broosa  ; and  when  called  to  the 
remote  interior,  we  doubt  not  they  will  do  the  same.  Pupils  having 
grace  and  missionary  spirit  sufficient  to  lead  them  to  the  interior, 
will  not  find  the  cultivation  and  civilization  gained  at  the  capital  any 
hinderance  to  their  doing  good,  but  necessary  to  their  greatest  influ- 
ence and  usefulness.  It  is  a fact  that  those  from  the  interior  educated 
here,  without  exception,  desire  to  return  to  their  native  cities,  to  be 
there  useful  to  their  nation. 

The  present  location  of  the  boarding  school,  in  the  midst  of  an 
Armenian  community  in  Ilass-keuy,  has  been  productive  of  great  and 
good  results.  It  needs  permanency  for  its  greatest  success;  and  (it 
has  been  thought)  this  cannot  be  obtained,  without  the  purchase  of  a 
building  for  it.  Rents  may  be  had,  but  with  constant  difficulties,  and 
at  great  expense.  The  premises  now  occupied  are  large  and  expen- 
sive, for  the  present  plan  of  the  school,  the  rent  being  fourteen  thou- 
sand piasters  yearly.  But  that  house,  with  all  its  capacity  and  inconve- 
nience, was  the  only  one  in  that  or  any  Armenian  village  that  could  be 
found,  after  more  than  two  years  of  incessant  and  (we  believe)  faithful 
search.  Nor  do  we  believe  that  a house,  which  will  accommodate  the 
school,  will  ever  be  rented  for  a much  smaller  sum,  even  for  the  school 
on  its  present  plan,  viz.,  of  not  having  a family  aside  from  the  prin- 
cipal connected  with  it.  On  the  present  plan,  the  whole  management 
of  the  school,  in  all  its  departments,  is  in  the  hands  of  Miss  West,  its 
principal.  This  plan  was  presented  by  her  to  the  trustees,  (after  the 
decease  of  Mrs.  Everett,)  and  heartily  approved  by  them.  For 
the  last  term,  it  has  gone  into  a most  satisfactory  and  successful 
operation.  The  symmetry,  order,  and  neatness  of  the  school,  in  all 
its  arrangements,  are  worthy  of  commendation,  and  reflect  great 
credit  on  the  principal,  and  promise  very  important  results.  The 
school  may  be  accommodated  in  a smaller  house  than  was  formerly 
necessary,  and  we  trust  a more  complete  domestic  education  will  be 
secured.  We  rejoice  to  learn  that  Miss  West  is  soon  to  be  joined  by 
her  sister,  to  share  with  her  the  arduous  and  yet  most  delightful  labors, 
and  the  weighty  responsibilities  of  her  station. 


J.  S.  EVERETT,  Chairman. 


19 


VII. 

THE  JEWISH  MISSION. 

The  time  appears  to  have  come  for  a change  in  the  Jewish  depart- 
ment of  our  labors.  The  following  facts  seem  to  justify  and  call  for 
such  a step. 

1.  We  occupy,  at  present,  three  stations  among  the  Jews,  namely, 
Constantinople,  Salonica,  and  Smyrna. 

Smyrna  is  at  least  partially  occupied  by  the  London  Jews  Society,  . 
as  it  was  before  we  went  there;  so  that  our  going  was,  at  the  time, 
considered  an  intrusion.  Whether  the  claim  of  that  Society  to  the 
whole  field  is  justly  founded  or  not,  if  we  now  leave  it  the  Jews  there 
will  not  be  abandoned  to  entire  neglect.  Nay,  we  should  hope  that 
the  present  English  mission  would  then  be  enlarged. 

Salonica  is  so  unhealthy  that,  considering  our  past  experience,  we 
could  not  advise  a missionary  to  reside  there  more  than  two-thirds  of 
the  year.  For  four  months  in  every  year  he  must  live  in  Smyrna,  or 
on  the  shores  of  the  Bosphorus,  causing  an  interruption  of  his  labors 
which  must  necessarily,  in  great  measure,  prevent  the  usefulness  of 
the  station,  if  it  does  not  render  its  occupancy  impracticable.  And, 
although  it  is  possible  a health  retreat  may  be  found  within  an  hour  or 
two  of  the  town,  yet  no  experience  of  any  missionary  has  yet  estab- 
lished this,  and  if  the  attempt  should  be  .made  one  or  more  lives  may 
be  sacrificed,  while  in  that  place  there  has  already  been,  it  would  seem, 
a sufficient  loss  in  this  respect.  . 

Constantinople  is  a large  city,  having  a large  Jewish  population, — 
the  largest  congregated  in  any  one  place  in  the  world, — but  both  the 
English  and  the  Scotch  have  missionaries  to  the  Jews  here. 

2.  The  whole  field  of  Spanish-speaking  Jews  in  Turkey  is  quite 
limited,  not  probably  containing  more  than  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  souls ; not  more  than  one 
half  of  whom  can  we  consider  as  properly  falling  to  the  missionaries 
of  the  Board. 

3.  The  Armenian  field,  on  the  contrary,  is  quite  large,  and  is  in  the 
most  urgent  need  of  laborers.  Indeed  the  work  is  in  danger  of  greatly 
suffering  and  of  being  seriously  retarded  at  several  points,  if  laborers 
are  not  immediately  supplied.  In  the  Jewish  field  we  do  not  see  any 
such  urgency  or  danger. 

4.  The  Armenian  field  is  emphatically  our  field ; and  our  exclusive 
right  to  occupy  it  has  been  conceded,  as  it  were,  by  all  Protestant 
Christendom ; which  naturally  imposes  upon  us  the  duty  of  seeing  that 
it  is  fully  occupied  and  well  cultivated.  If  we  do  not  come  fully  up 
to  our  responsibilities  in  this  respect  we  shall  forfeit  our  right  of  pos- 


20 


session,  and  can  make  no  complaint  if  other  Societies  undertake  to  do 
the  work  which  we  neglect. 

5.  The  Jewish  missionaries  in  Smyrna  and  Salonica  are  all  willing 
to  transfer  their  labors  from  the  Jewish  to  the  Armenian  field,  and  two 
out  of  the  three,  after  much  reflection  and  prayer,  have  come  to  the 
full  conviction  that  their  labors  could,  by  such  a change  as  the  one 
proposed,  be  turned  to  more  account  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 
Moreover,  they  can  soon  be  prepared  to  preach  to  the  Armenian  peo- 
ple, as  some,  if  not  all  of  them,  are  already  more  or  less  acquainted 
with  the  Turkish  language  ; and  Mrs.  Morgan  has  made  considerable 
advance  in  the  Armenian. 

6.  By  thus  withdrawing,  partially,  from  this  branch  of  our  labors 
in  order  to  strengthen  and  bring  forward  the  work  among  the  Arme- 
nians, we  shall  by  no  means  consign  the  Jewish  field  to  abandonment ; 
for,  in  the  first  place,  the  converted  Armenians  have  ever  proved  to  be 
most  deeply  interested  in  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  Jews,  and  are 
constantly  disposed  to  labor  for  their  salvation.  By  giving,  for  the 
present,  almost  our*whole  attention  to  the  Armenians,  we  shall  be 
raising  up,  under  God,  an  efficient  body  of  native  missionaries  for  the 
Jews.  And,  secondly,  the  English  and  Scotch  Christians  have  always 
manifested  a special  interest  in  laboring  for  the  conversion  of  the 
ancient  people  of  God.  The  London  Jews  Society,  and  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland,  have  already  prosperous  missions  here,  and  the 
present  prospect  is  that  the  Established  Church  of  Scotland  also  will 
soon  have  missionaries  on  the  ground,  particularly  if  we  withdraw. 
For  the  missionaries  of  each  of  these  Societies  we  shall  be  able  to 
furnish  (as  we  have  done  to  some  extent  in  time  past)  the  very  best 
native  agents  they  can  procure,  from  among  the  converted  Armenians. 

In  view  of  the  facts  here  presented,  we  are  prepared  to  recommend 
that  Messrs.  Morgan  and  Parsons  be  transferred  to  the  Armenian  field. 
The  mere  fact  that  they  were  originally  designated  to  the  Jews,  does 
not  appear  to  be  of  sufficient  weight  to  counterbalance  all  the  other 
facts  here  stated.  Mr.  Dodd  not  being  yet  satisfied  as  to  his  own  duty, 
we  are  not  prepared  to  report  on  his  case. 

In  respect  to  the  labors  of  Mr.  Schauffler  at  Constantinople,  the 
committee  are  agreed  in  recommending  any  one  of  the  three  following 
plans. 

1.  We  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  Scotch  Free  Church  would 
be  glad  to  transfer  their  German  work  in  Galata  to  Mr.  Schauffler,  and 
concentrate  their  strength  upon  the  Spanish  Jews.  This  would  give 
to  Mr.  Schauffler  a preaching  station  exclusively  his  own,  and  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  his  qualifications  and  tastes. 

2.  He  may  be  permitted  to  take  measures  to  .call  into  active  co-oper- 


21 


ation  brethren  from  the  Armenian  Protestants,  by  preparing  them  and 
sending  them  forth  as  colporters,  or  lay-missionaries,  according  to  their 
respective  gifts. 

If  such  help  can  be  obtained,  to  a sufficient  extent,  labors  could  be 
performed  not  only  in  Constantinople  and  Smyrna,  but  Salonica  also 
might  be  kept  supplied,  and  thus  the  Jewish  mission  be  continued 
with  sufficient  vigor  in  all  three  of  its  stations  until  further  reinforce- 
ments be  received  from  America,  if  at  any  future  time  it  shall  be 
thought  expedient  to  send  them.  This  plan  would  involve  the  contin- 
uance of  labors  through  the  press.  It  would  not  exclude,  but  include 
the  employment  of  converted  Israelites,  as  lay  helpers,  if  proper  indi- 
viduals can  be  obtained  and  prepared  for  the  work.  It  would  be  highly 
useful  to  the  native  Protestants,  making  the  Protestant  church  of 
Turkey  a mission  church  to  the  Jews  ; a character  and  relation  which 
it  is  hoped  they'  will  also,  ere  long,  sustain  to  the  Mohammedans  of 
Turkey. 

3.  If  this  plan  should  meet  with  too  great  difficulties,  the  com- 
mittee, seeing  no  way  of  permanently  preserving  the  Jewish  depart- 
ment as  connected  with  our  mission,  would  propose  that  it  he  gradually 
abandoned.  In  this  case,  Mr.  Schauffler,  if  his  life  be  spared,  might 
prepare  himself  for  laboring  among  the  Mohammedans  when  the  time 
for  such  efforts  shall  have  come ; and  it  might  be  appropriate  to  close 
the  labors  of  the  American  Board  among  the  Jews  of  Turkey  by 
giving  them  the  intended  new  and  popular  translation  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, without  the  Hebrew  in  parallel  columns  as  before.  While 
doing  that  work,  Mr.  Schauffler  might  not  only  pursue  a course  of 
preparation  for  Turkish  labors,  but  gradually  seek  access  to  that  peo- 
ple, and  by  the  time  his  last  work  for  the  Jews  shall  be  finished,  it  is 
very  probable  that  the  remaining  obstacles  to  labors  among  the  Moham- 
medans, in  a quiet  and  judicious  way,  may  be  removed.  This  course 
may  prove  satisfactory  to  the  friends  of  Israel  in  America,  prevent 
the  inconvenience  to  other  Jewish  missionaries  of  an  abrupt  with- 
drawal on  our  part  from  the  Jewish  field,  and  relieve  the  American 
Board  of  a responsibility  which  they  have  hitherto  been  unable  to  meet. 

If  this  last  plan  should  commend  itself  as  the  one  to  be  preferred, 
the  committee  would  urge  upon  the  brethren  laboring  among  the 
Armenians  the  duty  of  furnishing  the  Armenian  converts  with  the 
appropriate  means  of  making  themselves  useful  to  the  Jews  as  they 
may  have  opportunity.  As  the  missionaries  of  the  Board  will,  in  this 
case,  be  withdrawn  from  the  Jewish  field  for  the  benefit  of  the  Arme- 
nian mission,  a special  responsibility  in  this  matter  will  rest  upon  them 
and  their  converts  in  the  Armenian  field.  The  Armenian  Protestants 
cannot  be  otherwise  than  greatly  benefited  by  being  taught  to  find 


22 


Christ  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  especially  to  become  a missionary 
church,  thus  inheriting  “ the  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to  per- 
ish.” 

H.  G.  O.  DWIGHT,  Chairman. 


VIII. 

THE  SUPPLY  OF  THE  FIELD. 

Your  committee  have  endeavored  to  look  at  this  subject  from  our  • 
present  position ; to  look  at  it  anew,  as  though  no  previous  report  had 
ever  been  made  upon  it ; and  to  look  at  it  also  in  reference,  not  so 
much  as  to  what  might  in  other  circumstances  be  desirable,  as  to  what 
seems  both  indispensable  and  within  the  bounds  of  possibility. 

The  onward  progress  of  things  in  the  Armenian  field  has  been  such 
that,  in  the  view  of  your  committee,  it  is  much  less  necessary  than  it 
formerly  was  for  two  mission  families  to  be  placed  together  ; while  the 
imperative  demand  for  a much  greater  number  of  missionaries  than 
there  is  any  reasonable  prospect  of  obtaining,  seems  to  require  of  us 
a self-sacrificing  spirit  in  this  respect. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  mission,  when  the  missionary  had  to  feel 
his  way  amidst  the  thickest  darkness,  when  for  weeks  and  months  he 
was  cut  off  from  all  religious  and  even  social  intercourse  with  the 
people,  when  he  could  neither  call  on  them  nor  they  on  him,  when  he 
sometimes  hardly  dared  walk  abroad,  and  knew  not  what  to  do,  it 
seemed  not  only  desirable  but  absolutely  necessary,  that  the  missionary 
and  his  wife  should  have  a brother  and  sister  associated  with  them,  to 
share  the  crushing  responsibilities,  to  consult  and  pray  and  weep 
together,  to  take  care  of  each  other  in  sickness,  and  to  bury  each 
other  when  dead,  if  so  be  a spot  of  earth,  six  feet  long  and  three  feet 
wide,  could  any  where  be  obtained,  for  love  or  for  money.  But  the 
former  things  are  to  a wonderful  degree  passed  away.  And  in  our 
present  circumstances,  a solitary  mission  family  in  the  midst  of  any  of 
these  little  Christian  communities,  and  especially  with  a native  helper 
of  some  sort,  would  be  far  less  solitary  and  desolate,  than  two  mission 
families  would  have  been,  or  rather  actually  were,  in  the  early  period 
of  this  mission. 

Your  committee  would,  at  the  outset,  utter  their  deep  conviction  of 
the  importance  of  every  missionary’s  having,  employed  under  his 
direction,  a native  agency,  so  far  as  such  agency  is  needed  in  any  part 
of  his  field,  and  can  be  obtained.  And  may  the  Spirit  be  poured  out 


23 


upon  our  schools  of  the  prophets  at  Bebek,  Tocat,  and  Aintab,  that 
such  helpers  may  be  greatly  multiplied. 

The  places  that  have  been  brought  under  the  special  notice  of  your 
committee  are  the  twenty  following,  viz.  : Oorfa,  Aleppo,  Antioch, 
Kessab,  Adana,  Smyrna,  Ak-hissar,  Nicomedia,  Bagtchejuk,  Ada-bazar, 
Kutahya,  Adrianople,  Trebizond,  Marsovan,  Yuzgat,  Arabkir,  and 
Kharpoot,  together  with  Scutari,  Samatia,  and  Balat  or  Eyoob,  in  or 
near  Constantinople.  To  none  of  these  places  where  one  mission 
family  is  already  found,  except  at  Arabkir  and  Kharpoot,  would  your 
committee  recommend  that  another  be  sent,  so  long  as  the  harvest  is 
so  great  and  the  laborers  are  so  few.  Arabkir  and  Kharpoot  being 
new  and  very  remote  stations,  as  well  as  very  important,  with  many 
openings  of  great  promise  in  all  the  extensive  region  around  them,  the 
solitary  families  at  those  two  stations  require  not  only  sympathy  but 
associates,  another  family  at  each  being  most  manifestly  needed.  And 
as  to  those  places  where  two  or  more  mission  families  are  now  found, 
unless  there  be  a most  clear  and  distinct  work  for  each  missionary  to 
do,  the  whole  responsibility  of  which  shall  rest  on  him,  and  which  he 
can  pursue  without  interfering  at  all  with  what  his  brethren  ought  to 
do,  and  would  do  were  he  not  there,  your  committee  feel  constained 
to  recommend  that,  unless  their  health  or  the  state  of  the  country 
forbid,  their  present  arrangements  for  dwelling  together  be  considered 
only  temporary  ; and  that  as  soon  as  they  have  acquired  such  a knowl- 
edge of  the  language  and  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  country, 
as  shall  prepare  them  for  active  service,  they  separate  to  occupy  other 
portions  of  the  great  field  ; each  one  perhaps  taking  with  him,  for  a 
limited  period,  some  new  missionary  who  may  have  just  arrived,  in 
order  to  initiate  him  into  the  work. 

Your  committee  recommend  that  a missionary  be  sent  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible  to  occupy  Antioch,  and  that  Kessab  (which  is  only  a 
day’s  ride  from  that  city)  be  supplied  with  a native  pastor  under  the 
immediate  direction  of  the  Aintab  station.  In  the  opinion  of  your 
committee,  Nicomedia,  Bagtchejuk  and  Ada-bazar  have  the  same  rela- 
tion to  each  other  as  Antioch  and  Kessab,  and  possess  equally  strong 
claims  upon  your  immediate  attention  ; and  they  would,  therefore, 
urge  that  a missionary  be  hastened  to  occupy  Bagtchejuk,  and  native 
pastors  under  his  immediate  direction  to  the  other  two  places. 

Of  Constantinople,  a great  world  in  itself,  containing  eight  or  ten 
times  as  many  inhabitants  as  all  the  Sandwich  Islands,  what  shall  we 
say  ? Within  the  walls  of  this  immense  city,  only  one  missionary 
resides ; and  he  is  able  to  give  only  one-third  of  his  time  to  the  imme- 
diate population  around  him.  And  yet  the  experiment  of  one-third  of 
a man,  for  one  year  and  four  months,  has  been  a most  blessed  experi- 
ment. And  your  committee  would  recommend,  with  the  utmost  earn- 


24 


estness,  that  two  whole  missionaries  be  sent  immediately  to  occupy 
two  other  important  sections  of  the  city,  viz.,  Samatia,  towards  the 
Seven  Towers,  whore  there  is  a large  Armenian  population,  containing 
already  some  Protestant  families,  and  Balat  or  Eyoob,  (the  former 
within,  and  the  latter  just  without  the  walls  of  the  city,)  where  there 
is  also  a large  Armenian  population,  with  some  Protestant  families. 

Of  Scutari,  a large  suburb  of  the  city,  on  the  Asiatic  side  of  the 
Bosphorus,  with  a population  not  less  than  that  of  Smyrna,  and  where 
several  Protestant  families  now  reside,  your  committee  feel  compelled 
to  speak  with  great  urgency.  It  is  only  within  a few  months  that  a 
native  preacher  could  be  found  to  labor  there ; but  the  place  is  alto- 
gether too  important  to  be  left  to  such  agency,  and  your  committee 
would  urge  its  immediate  occupancy  by  a missionary.  And  should  it 
be  found  impracticable  to  provide  a missionary  for  each  of  these  three 
places,  your  committee  would  recommend  that  the  native  agency  be 
employed  at  Balat  and  Eyoob,  rather  than  at  Scutari.  One  of  these 
three  stations  at  the  capital  your  committee  would  recommend  that 
Mr.  Pettibone  occupy. 

They  also  recommend  that  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Riggs’s  contem- 
plated absence  in  the  United  States,  either  Mr.  Bliss  of  Marsovan,  or 
Mr.  Van  Lennep  of  Tocat  be  removed  to  Constantinople,  the  decision 
between  these  two  places  to  be  made  by  the  committee  ad  interim,  after 
correspondence  with  the  above  named  brethren. 

The  importance  of  Yuzgat  as  a missionary  station,  and  the  interest 
awakened  there  by  the  visits  of  our  brethren  from  Cesarea,  constrain 
your  committee  to  recommend  earnestly  that  the  place  be  permanently 
occupied,  just  as  soon  as  our  brethren  at  Cesarea  can  do  it  with  a 
reasonable  prospect  of  being  re-inforced  from  America. 

Your  committee  would  recommend  that  Mr.  Parsons  be  sent  to 
Bagtchejuk,  Mr.  Morgan  to  Antioch,  Mr.  Dodd  to  Aleppo,  and  Mr. 
Nutting  to  Oorfa. 

As  for  Adana,  Kutahya,  and  Adrianople,  your  committee  do  not 
see  how  they  can  at  present  be  supplied,  except  by  such  native  agency 
as  can  be  obtained. 

In  the  view  of  your  committee,  the  abandonment  of  Smyrna  would 
necessarily  involve  the  abandonment  of  Magnesia,  Ak-hissar,  and 
indeed  all  the  Seven  Churches  of  Asia,  and  they  would  therefore 
recommend,  that  Mr.  Ladd  be  for  the  present  continued  at  Smyrna, 
giving  up  his  English  service,  and  dividing  his  labors  as  best  he  can 
between  that  place  and  Ak-hissar,  with  such  native  help  as  God  shall 
furnish  him,  and  with  the  prayers  of  all  his  brethren. 

Your  committee  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  their  deep  sympathy 
for  those  families  in  the  interior,  who  are  left  to  pursue  their  work 
alone ; and  especially  for  the  family  at  Arabkir,  who  have  also  to  be 


25 


separated  from  an  only  and  beloved  child.  Were  it  possible  to  supply 
the  important  station  at  Arabkir  in  any  other  way,  your  committee 
would  recommend  that  Mr.  Clark  be  removed  to  a station  at  or  near 
the  Capital,  or  at  any  rate  to  some  place  where  the  daughter  could 
have  a home  with  the  parents.  ' 

In  conclusion,  your  committee  would  recommend  that  no  mission 
family  remain  too  long  alone  without  visiting  the  family  at  some  other 
station,  or  being  visited  by  them.  This  is  necessary  for  the  body, 
soul,  and  spirit  of  both  the  brother  and  the  sister,  and  more  especially 
of  the  latter  ; the  influence  of  too  much  seclusion  being  generally 
found  to  operate  very  unfavorably  in  all  these  respects.  It  may  be 
necessary,  in  some  cases,  to  ask  a special  grant  for  this  purpose. 

^ W.  GOODELL,  Chairman. 


IX. 

MISSIONARY  LABOR  AMONG  THE  MOSLEMS. 

From  the  beginning  of  our  labors  among  the  rayah  races  in  Tur- 
key, the  indirect  influence  of  those  labors  upon  the  Turks  has  been 
considered  as  of  no  small  importance.  We  have  not  passed  by  the 
Mohammedan  population  with  indifference,  but  have  continually  looked 
forward  to  the  time  when,  by  the  exhibition  of  a pure  Christianity  in 
the  midst  of  them,  the  way  would  be  open  for  more  direct  labors. 
The  developments  of  God’s  providence  now  bring  before  us  the  ques- 
tion, whether  this  time  has  arrived. 

The  demand  for  the  word  of  God  in  the  Turkish  language  has 
greatly  increased,  and  is  increasing  in  a remarkable  manner.  There 
exists  among  that  people  now  a readiness  to  converse  upon  the  points 
of  difference  between  Mohammedans  and  Christians,  and  a spirit  of 
inquiry  concerning  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  entirely  unknown 
before.  More  than  one  or  two  genuine  Moslems  have  renounced 
their  faith,  and  give  evidence  of  true  conversion.  For  this  state  of 
things  the  missionaries  of  our  Board  in  Turkey  are,  humanly  speak- 
ing, chiefly  responsible.  It  is  too,  in  a great  degree,  the  result  of  their 
labors.  To  us,  therefore,  would  naturally  fall  the  duty  of  meeting  the 
demand  thus  created,  and  carrying  on  the  work  thus  begun,  and  that 
we  should,  to  some  extent,  meet  this  demand,  your  committee  have  not 
a doubt. 


D 


26 


But  has  the  time  arrived  in  the  providence  of  God  for  an  organized 
system  of  missionary  labors  among  that  people?  We  think  it  has  not, 
and  for  the  following  reasons. 

1.  Our  work  among  the  Armenians  would  be  endangered  by  any 
premature,  open  labors  among  the  Turks.  We  say  premature,  for  we 
cannot  suppose  that  such  prudential  consideration  should  keep  us  from 
finally  giving  the  gospel  to  a people,  but  only  that  they  should  make 
us  very  cautious  as  to  the  time  and  way,  and  lead  us  to  wait  for  the 
most  obvious  and  imperative  call  of  providence,  which  being  given,- 
we  may  leave  the  responsibility  with  God. 

Our  labors  among  the  Armenians  are  not  displeasing  to  the  Turks. 
The  development  of  pure  religion  among  them  pleases  the  Moham- 
medans. They  generally  look  with  favor  upon  the  rising  Protestant 
communities,  and  often  help  them»against  their  persecutors.  But  we 
have  reason  to  fear  that  any  regular  system  of  missionary  labor  among 
them,  having  necessarily  an  aggressive  face,  would  change  their  favor 
to  dislike,  and  would  draw  down  upon  the  feeble  Protestant  communi- 
ties their  fanatical  wrath,  in  addition  to  that  of  ecclesiastical  rulers  ; 
and  even  the  lives  of  our  missionaries  in  the  interior  would  be  in  peril. 

2.  We  owe  it  to  the  Turkish  government,  which  protects  us  in  our 
labors,  not  to  place  it  in  ai*  embarrassing  position,  if  we  can  avoid  it. 
We  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  the  mere  fact  of  the  conversion  of 
Mussulmans  would  excite  any  particular  displeasure  among  Moham- 
medan rulers.  They  are  indifferent.  But  any  publicity  given  to  such 
things,  or  any  public  or  obvious  system  of  aggression,  would  arouse 
the  fanaticism  of  the  people  who  are  not  indifferent,  and  compel  the 
government  to  notice  things  to  which  otherwise  they  would  prefer  to 
shut  their  eyes.  To  them  doubtless  the  silent,  quiet  conversion  of  a 
large  number  of  Mussulmans  would  be  less  offensive,  than  the  publicity 
of  an  organized  missionary  society  laboring  for  them,  though  not  one 
soul  were  converted. 

3.  Ambassadors  of  different  Christian  powers,  under  instructions 
from  their  several  governments,  are  making  a combined  effort  to  secure 
the  abrogation  of  the  death  penalty  for  apostasy  from  the  Mohammedan 
faith,  and  we  have  reason  to  hope  they  will  succeed.  To  embarrass 
this  delicate  but  most  important  negotiation,  just  now,  would  be  very 
imprudent,  and  perhaps  nearly  as  imprudent  to  have  such  efforts  follow 
immediately  upon  such  a concession. 

In  view  of  these  considerations  it  seems  to  us  wise,  for  the  present, 
to  be  content  with  such  quiet,  unobtrusive  efforts  as  we  may  put  forth 
while" engaged  in  our  present  regular  employments.  We  should 
doubtless  converse  freely  with  such  as  give  us  the  opportunity,  give 
advice  and  instruction  to  any  inquirers,  refuse  admittance  to  none  who 
choose  to  attend,  preaching  in  Turkish,  and  if. the  Spirit  of  God  moves 


27 


the  hearts  of  any,  baptize  such  on  good  evidence  of  the  change,  as  we 
have  already  done,  but  should  have  no  distinct  system  of  labor  for 
them. 

E.  W.  DODD,  Chairman. 


X. 

SHOULD  MISSIONARY  FUNDS  BE  APPLIED  TO  THE  TEMPORAL 
RELIEF  O ^CONVERTS  ? 

The  question  proposed  to  your  committee  is  a simple  and  definite 
one,  and  one  which  admits  of  a brief  reply.  It  has  no  reference  to 
such  funds  as  may  be  contributed  for  the  special  object  of  the  temporal 
relief  of  persecuted  and  suffering  converts.  It  relates  only  to  funds 
which  are  contributed  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  the  gospel,  and  in 
our  case,  to  those  which  are  appropriated  to  this  mission  by  the  Pru- 
dential Committee  of  the  American  Board. 

Our  answer  to  this  question  then  would  be,  that  such  funds  should 
not  be  applied  to  the  temporal  relief  of  converts,  and  for  several 
reasons. 

1st.  Such  a use  would  be  a diversion  of  missionary  funds  from 
their  primary  object.  These  funds  are  contributed  for  the  great  fun- 
damental purposes  of  bringing  lost  and  sinful  men  to  a knowledge  of 
Christ  as  the  Savior,  and  of  cultivating  their  spiritual  life.  They  are, 
therefore,  legitimately  applied  to  the  support  of  men  who  preach  the 
gospel,  and  to  . the  production  and  circulation  of  books  which  bring 
0 the  gospel  home  to  the  heart ; in  short,  to  such  enterprises  as  bear  on 
the  conversion  and  spiritual  progress  of  the  unevangelized.  Now,  the 
temporal  relief  of  those  who,  by  reason  of  a profession  of  their  religious 
convictions,  may  be  thrown  out  of  employment,  or  be  obliged  to  suffer 
persecution,  plainly  does  not  fall  within  this  specific  object  of  mission- 
ary funds. 

2d.  Such  an  application  of  the  funds  would  tend  to  defeat  the 
specific  end  for  which  they  were  contributed,  by  corrupting  the  motives 
of  those  who  might  be  brought  within  the  influence  of  the  gospel. 
There  are  multitudes  of  every  religious  sect,  all  about  us,  who  are  now 
in  extreme  want  and  misery.  If  the  profession  of  another  faith  were 
accompanied  by  the  hope  of  temporal  aid,  hundreds  of  this  class  would 
be  ready  to  make  that  change.  They  would  follow  Christ  really,  and 
undisguisedly,  for  the  loaves  and  fishes. 


28 


3d.  Such  use  of  funds  would  also  tend  to  embarrass  the  missionary 
by  removing  one  great  test  of  the  sincerity  of  those  who  ask  after  the 
truth,  and  the  validity  of  a hope  in  Christ  which  had 'cost  little  or  no 
sacrifice,  and  which  was  indulged  under  the  fostering  care  of  a bounty 
which  provided  for  temporal  necessities. 

We  would  not  deny  the  propriety,  nor  to  ourselves  the  privilege,  of 
responding  to  the  claims  of  the  distressed  upon  our  charity.  In  this 
respect  we  have  a duty  to  perform  as  men  and  Christians.  But  we 
would  have  such  claims  met  by  a spontaneous  contribution  on  the  part 
of  those  who  might  witness,  or  become  acquainted  with,  cases  of 
suffering  ; or  have  a special  limited  fund  given  for  that  purpose. 

Such  are,  briefly,  some  of  the  reasons  which  lead  us  to  give  a nega- 
tive answer  to  the  question  which ^tands  at  the  head  of  this  paper. 
We  should  say  also,  that  the  uniform  practice  of  this  mission  has  been 
in  accordance  with  this  principle.  In  no  case  have  missionary  funds 
been  applied  to  the  relief  of  temporal  wants.  We  strive  to  impress 
upon  all  who  come  under  our  influence,  that  they  must  do  right,  and 
trust  in  the  God  of  Elijah  and  Daniel ; that  they  -must  seek  first  the 
kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  trust  in  him  for  all  these 
things. 

II.  B.  MORGAN,  Chairman. 


XI. 

SALARIES. 

The  committee  on  Salaries  would  briefly  submit  the  following 
remarks  : 

1.  It  is  evident  that  the  expense  of  an  economical  support  in  this 
country  is  rapidly  increasing.  The  cost  of  flour  and  bread  in  Con- 
stantinople  is,  on  an  average,  three  times  what  it  was  two  years  ago. 
So  is  that  of  potatoes  and  vegetables  generally  ; also  of  wood  and  coal. 
'Meat  of  all  kinds  costs  more  than  double  what  it  then  did.  Sugar, 
and  articles  generally  brought  from  foreign  countries,  have  not  ad- 
vanced so  much.  Still  they  have  all  advanced  more  or  less. 

2.  A considerable  portion  of  this  increase  is  undoubtedly  owing  to 
the  existing  war.  The  immense  supplies  of  breadstuff’s  formerly  im- 
ported from  Russia,  are  of  course  cut  off,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
presence  of  the  allied  fleets  and  armies  in  this  neighborhood,  tends  to 
raise  the  price  of  all  such  articles  as  they  consume. 

3.  As  we  trust  that  this  state  of  things  will  be  but  temporary,  it 
seems  better  that  the  deficiency  in  the  salaries  of  missionaries  should 


29 


be  supplied  by  special  grants,  than  that  any  immediate  change  should 
be  made  in  the  amount  of  their  salaries. 

4.  In  regard  t^ the  wages  paid  to  helpers  in  the  various  departments 
of  our  work,  the  case  appears  to  be  different.  These  must  be  some- 
what affected  by  the  existing  demand  for  the  services  of  the  same  men 
in  secular  employments,  and  also  by  the  length  of  time  for  which  our 
contracts  with  them  are  made.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  it  must 
be  left  to  be  decided  according  to  the  circumstances  of  each  particular 
case,  whether  relief  shall  be  afforded  by  an  increase  of  wages,  or  by 
special  grants. 

E.  RIGGS,  Chairman. 

• 


XII . 

ESTIMATES,  APPROPRIATIONS,  AND  EXPENDITURES. 

As  there  appears  to  exist  entire  unanimity  in  the  views  of  the  breth- 
ren on  this  subject,  it  seems  unnecessary  to  do  more  here  than  to  state 
briefly  two  general  principles,  which  we  think  should  govern  our  action 
as  a mission  in  respect  to  it,  viz  : 

1.  Estimates  should  he  specific.  All  the  branches  of  missionary 
service  should  be  presented  in  their  due  proportion,  that  the  Prudential 
Committee  may  understand  distinctly  for  what  the  funds,  which  they 
appropriate,  are  to  be  expended. 

2.  Expenditures  should  correspond  as  nearly  as  practicable  with  the 
Appropriations.'  The  expenditures  in  a given  branch  should  not  ex- 
ceed the  amount  appropriated  for  it;  and  they  should.be  reported 
under  the  same  heads  with  the  grants  themselves.  As  this  point  was 
insisted  on  by  the  mission  at  its  last  annual  meeting,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  dwell  upon  it  here. 


E.  RIGGS,  Chairman. 


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